COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTIONThe lower gravity cousin to Rochefort 10. Nicknamed "Spéciale" (’The Special’), this beer is the most recent production. The Rochefort 8 has a more tawny colour and a more pronounced aroma, with an even richer fruitiness (a slight undertone of fig?) and a little more spiced dryness, like that of a cake, which gives a balanced finish to the final notes.

I don’t detect much of any aroma. There is a slightly nutty and yeasty scent. Pours light brown with an overwhelming off-white head. Surprisingly carbonated. Taste is tame and less intense than the 10. I enjoy this one more. This has a sort of woody Samuel Smith flavor. Not overwhelmingly yeasty like most Belgians. Finally a real Belgian that I can say I truly like.

Pours dark brown with a large, rocky head that leaves lots of lacing. All the dark fruit, spices, and Belgian yeast notes of the Rochefort 10 are in the aroma, without the big whiff of alcohol. I’m also getting a hop presence, which was absent in the 10. The flavor has more light fruit (banana, orange) than the 10, with a noticeably hoppy finish. As it warms, the raisin flavor comes out more. There seems to be, interestingly, more of an alcohol flavor here than I found in its bigger brother; the 10 finished dry, with a pleasant warming, while this one finishes bitter and a bit overly alcoholic. Good, even great, but I much prefer the 10.

The 330 ml bottle presents a cloudy, dark brown body with large, frothy tan head that leaves ample lacing. There is a rich, sweet, caramel malt and raisin-like, aroma with some hops and a hint of alcohol, maybe even a touch of cinammon. Initial palate is quite sweet, but balanced by the long-lasting, dry hop and warming alcohol finish. Mid-palate brings plum, raisin, ripe banana, sour cherry, clove and anise. Quite bold, but light in body and mouthfeel, this ale truly excels at the appropriate serving temperature. Excellent.

Bottle. Deep amber color with slight sediment and a big creamy head that lasts. Nose is very balanced and inviting-- light caramel malt, sweet raisin and tart fruit, and a flowery yeast aroma that is out of this world! Flavor delivers on all of these, with a smooth mouthfeel and completely masked alcohol throughout. I enjoyed this a little more than the 10. I think the lower abv in the 8 really allows the terrific yeast profile to shine through. Good stuff indeed!

Nice big swooping aroma. Sweet and winelike, fruity and bold. The appearance has a big frothy head on top of a dark brown/amber colour. Some lacing and yeast sediment. Flavour is also bold, big, malty, very sweet, alcohol, big fruit, tasty. Its smooth, nice for sipping, watch the alcohol buzz.

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